Thursday, August 02, 2007

Dora the Recalla

Well, it seems that Ms. Dora the Explora is being recalled by her parent company, "Fisher-Price", along with 82 other sibling toys including Diego, Elmo, Big Bird and others.

The worldwide recall being announced today involves 967,000 plastic preschool toys made by a Chinese vendor and sold in the United States between May and August.

The reason for the recall: their paint contains excessive amounts of...lead.

Carter Keithley, president of the Toy Industries Association, praised Mattel's quick response to the problem and suggested Mattel will use this setback as a lesson for not only the company but for the entire industry.

However, he expressed concern about how the recall and other toy recalls will play out in consumers' minds in advance of the holiday season.

"We are worried about the public feeling," said Keithley, adding he observed how toy companies are embracing strict controls during a recent toy safety seminar in China. "We have thought all along that (consumers) can be confident in the products," he said. "But if companies like Mattel have this, then you have to ask how did this happen?"

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, introduced a bill last month that he contended would dramatically expand the product safety commission's ability to protect consumers. In a statement Wednesday night, Durbin also called for better safety standards for products imported from China.

"Sadly, this is the most recent in a series of disturbing recalls of children's toys. While the toys may be different, they have one thing in common -- they were manufactured in China," he said. "With the current tools and resources the Consumer Product Safety Commission has, it cannot adequately protect American consumers." CNN

The Palestinians in Gaza should take this to heart -- most of their children's toys also contain excessive lead levels, due to Palestinian Authority shooting.